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Stephen Hawking Turned Down Knighthood

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the camelot-is-a-silly-place dept.

schliz writes "Professor Stephen Hawking has revealed that he turned down the offer of a knighthood over 10 years ago. The scientist has released correspondence showing that he was approached with the offer of a knighthood but refused it on principle. Professor Hawking has also revealed correspondence showing harsh criticism of what he sees as the UK government's mismanagement of science funding. He is particularly critical of the merger of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils."

16 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. source of knighthood vs source of funding by magarity · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I thought knighthoods were handed out by the monarch as special recognition of one's accomplishments. It's the queen's way of saying thanks for being such an outstanding citizen. If you have a beef with the prime minister(s) and their budgeting priority that's not the queen's fault. Seems rather rude to slap her thanks down for something she's not in charge of.

    1. Re:source of knighthood vs source of funding by expatriot · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There is a popular urban myth that Charles Dodgson wrote a book about magic rabbits that the queen (Victoria) liked and wanted a copy of the next book he wrote. Unfortunately for her, it was a book on mathematics.

  2. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by Shemmie · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I'm sure there are perks that come with it, but I believe the main thing is the honour of being recognised nationally for your achievements.

    I find it particularly interesting, as I'd backed a Downing Street petition to get Prof. Hawking Knighted - and the Government response was:

    Thank you for taking the trouble to sign this e-petition.
    The Prime Minister recognises the achievements of Professor Stephen Hawking and the widespread regard in which he is held. But it is of course the case that only about 60 Knighthoods are granted each year and there are many deserving candidates for each honour.
    However, the government can assure you that your support for this suggestion will be taken fully into account.
    To be fair, as one of the best scientific minds of his generation, it's typically British to ignore him during his lifetime - give it 200 years or so after his death before it'll be realized how important he was.
  3. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To be fair, as one of the best scientific minds of his generation, it's typically British to ignore him during his lifetime - give it 200 years or so after his death before it'll be realized how important he was.

    Only he wasn't ignored: he refused the honour.

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    Ignore this signature. By order.
  4. Good for him by teslatug · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This knighthood business is such pomposity, it doesn't belong in the modern era. I have to get permission from a queeen before calling someone Sir?

    1. Re:Good for him by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I have to get permission from a queeen before calling someone Sir?

            No, you can call anyone "Sir", but only the Queen can make it mean anything.

            It's tradition, you know? Although monarchies are now a thing of the past, it was still the only form of government that allowed Europe to survive the endless petty battles and feuds between regional warlords. That constant feuding would have kept us in the dark ages. The concept of the monarch as the overlord with the biggest army (and artillery!) to keep everyone in line brought peace to the lands (and at least confined war to overseas where other people's countries/crops/towns/culture got destroyed instead). That way civilization could begin to flourish.

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      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Good for him by lattyware · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Medical Dr. vs Real Dr. is a fun one, as the majority of Medical Doctors, are not actually doctors (don't have a doctorate), and yet people often say that someone who is a doctor, but not a medical doctor, is a fake doctor, which in fact, it's the other way around.

      I was told a story about a Pharmacist in a hospital who had his name - 'Dr. Bob Smith' (example) on the door. Now, the hospital forced him to take the Dr off, despite him actually having a doctorate, unlike most of the doctors who have it on their doors in the hospital, because he wasn't a medical doctor and it'd confuse people. I, personally, think that's insane.

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      -- Lattyware (www.lattyware.co.uk)
  5. Re:You want some Knighthoood? by onedotzero · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It does make me wonder if the good Professor does indeed use all caps to shout, a la IRC.

  6. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by TommyMc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    as one of the best scientific minds of his generation, it's typically British to ignore him during his lifetime

    Stephen Hawking is hardly "ignored". In fact, I'm struggling to think of a physicist less ignored. He's the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, has had a book stay on the British bestseller list for 5 years, and has been the subject of numerous documentaries, to name a few. If he's as well appreciated 200 years after his death as he is during his life, then he'll have been proved important.

    --
    Stupid people think it's cool. Smart people thinks it's a joke; also cool.
  7. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by hey! · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, it's an honor. It's recognition, which is nice, but which Hawking doesn't exactly need more of.

    If Wayne Gretsky was denied membership in the Hockey Hall of Fame, it wouldn't diminish his stature one bit. He might be annoyed at not being inducted, but in truth it's the Hall of Fame that is diminished. If he had a reason to refuse membership, he could do so, knowing of course that he'd effectively have to be in it, because players of the era couldn't be honored without mentioning him.

    As far as women are concerned, apparently Einstein had plenty of 'em, and he wasn't exactly physically attractive. I'm sure that if Hawking's equipment is functional, he could use it on a different woman every day if he wanted to. So he doesn't get more women, no. But a lesser luminary might. Consider if you are introduced to a woman as "Dr. So and So, who is a physicist" as opposed to "Sir So and So, the physicist." To the degree being a physicist might move you towards home base (or whatever the cricket equivalent is), I'd imagine the knighthood might get you a bit farther.

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    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  8. It is perfectly understandable by damburger · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A lot of people are refusing knighthoods, because association with our tired, old absurd Imperial rituals is more of a detriment than a benefit to someone who is already famous in their own right.

    The people who tend to accept them are the ones whose careers are on the slide anyway.

    --
    If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
  9. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by cp.tar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And good for him. I already had a lot of respect for him and now it's gone even higher. It's a wise man whose sense of self-worth isn't influenced by titles he's given.

    Then again, there is a purpose to accepting such honours.
    You can return them afterwards as a sign of protest, and it echoes more loudly than simply refusing them in the first place.

    --
    Ignore this signature. By order.
  10. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by blitziod · · Score: 2, Interesting

    yes but they never give them REAL pearage, as in a title you can hand down...that is worth something..

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    The only way to bust a doper--is when you yourself become a smoker!
  11. Re:What do you get with knighthood? by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A good example, but it seems the exception. The British are usually ready to laud anyone they can. Turing was generally turned away because of his homosexuality and a suspicion that he might be Communist.

  12. Honorary knighthoods are insults by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I'm sure there are perks that come with it, but I believe the main thing is the honour of being recognised nationally for your achievements.

    In my opinion, a knighthood would be an insult to Hawking. He is one of the greatest minds of all time; being Sir Stephen would leave him permanently at the bottom of the nobility scale.

    Perhaps that's the point of honorary knighthoods: so that the hereditary nobility can look down on all the great people who have been "honored" and put them in their place.

  13. Re:Doctor vs Doctor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Well, in that case, MD's who insist on the title "Dr." outside of a hospital are similarly insecure, pompous twits.

    And yet, I hear medical professionals use the title way, way more than academics when introducing themselves outside of both medical and academic establishments.

    Well, they do say that medical practitioners tend to have large egos :)